Seems to be the year of veterans leaving worldly life and reaching the holy abode. The recent exit of versatile singer S Janaki is yet another addition.

My memory goes to her song ‘Jal jal enum salangai oli’ in one of the (flop) films of veteran MGR’ s ‘Paasam (1962).’ In fact, she had a nice duet also in the same movie ‘Malaiyum iravum’ with PB Srinivas. The latter one became a hit, though not the first. 

She kept singing in all the music directors tunes but it was Ilayaraja’s ‘Sendoora Poove’ from ’16 Vayadinile’ (1977) only catapulted her to the top. Ilayaraja was also continuously offering songs with immense variety; almost one could feel that Raja in a way, relegated P Susila to the background. Janaki was flooded with offers, solos and duets. I just cannot pull out a single song of Ilayaraja and say that ‘this particular song of S Janaki for Ilayaraja is super’. There are many analysts now to dig and do the job, and one can expect them in the coming days; all media will be flooded with Raja-Janaki-SPB combos, duets and solos. 

Janaki was a humble soul to the best of my knowledge. She sang all her songs with great precision and emotion. Her voice, as well as her pronunciation would be slightly different from others. But at no time clarity, or melody was compromised. She was also popular for her high-pitched rendition, with the Nadaswaram of Karukuruchi , the even popular ‘Singara Velane deva’ from ‘Konjum Salangai,’ which is spoken about even today. 

Janaki’s ascend was slow, steady and definite. Her stay on the top was stable and strong. Her exit was also in my opinion, dignified like her music. 

Let her soul be in heaven, and her songs be with us, remind and keep her memory alive among her fans and audience forever.